The Japanese word izakaya (居酒屋) is made up of three kanji with the meaning, in order, “stay-drink-place.” A spot to grab a drink, settle in, and get comfortable.

Yakitori-- chicken grilled over flame on skewers-- goes hand and hand with izakaya-- Japanese style tapas and drinking restaurants. Almost all izakaya offer yakitori, and many yakitori shops run like izakaya, only with less staff.

Most izakayas offer a plethora of food items, from snacks to something more substantial like rice omelets. The amazing variety of menu options includes nibbles such as edamame (boiled green soybeans) and Japanese dishes like sashimi, tempura, tofu, grilled fish, hot pot dishes and more.

Izakaya are sometimes called Akachochin (lantern made of red papers), because these paper lanterns are traditionally found in front of an izakaya and often used as the signs for cheap drinking and eating. The izakaya or akachochin may be considered the Japanese counterpart of the English pub.